Aerial rescue device



H. E. HODGSON. AERIAL RESCUE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1922.

1 435 923 Patented. Nov. 21, 11922.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

- INVENTOR H. E. HODGSON.

AERIAL RESCUE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 922.

1,435,923.. Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

4 $HEETS-$HEET 2| n I] IN V EN TOR H. E. HODGSON.

AERIAL RESCUE DEVICE. APPLICATIONHLED FEB. 23. 1922.

,jlAkSfiflgS Patented Nov. 2L 1922.

4 ShEETS SHEET 3.

H. E. HODGSON. AERIAL RESCUE DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, l92 2- Pmtmted Nov. 211 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHED 4.

E IN V ENTOR fll t/w A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 2i, 1%22.

stares nannrnr'rn n. nonoson, or new YORK, N. Y.

AERIAL RESCUE DEVICE.

Application filed February as, 1922.

To all whom it mayconcem Be it known that I, Hanmnr rn E. Honeson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and Sat-ate of New York, have invented a new and useful Aerial Rescue Device, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a device for effecting rescues or transfers of persons by airplanes or dirigibles. It comprises a dangle carried by or attachable to a rope ladder, which is lowered from the aerial vessel, the dangle being of such nature as to afford maximum'opportunity of being grasped by a person or persons on the ground, or in a moving vehicle from which the transfer may be effected. The device may be used for picking up and transferring. a'considerable number of persons, and may be employed for either military or non-military purposes.

In the accompanying drawings illustratin i the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of the device in the condition in which it is carried on the aerial vessel and in which it is lowered into proximity to the ground;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, showing the condition after the frame has been released so as to assume a substantially horizontal position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing the succeeding condition, in which the plurality of terminal ladders carried by the frame have been dropped, so that any one or more of them can be grasped;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing how the frame tilts to a substantially vertical position under the weight of a person on one of the terminal ladders;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a simplified form of device; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another simplified construction.

The form of device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a frame 1 composed primarily of pairs of longitudinals 2 arranged in the form of an equalarm cross. The longitudinals are connected by cross-pieces 3 forming ladder rungs. Rope rungs might be employed, but metal cross-pieces are preferred for reasons of strength. The frame is well braced by diagonals a, which are preferably "indicated at 11, to the aerial vessel.

Serial at. 538,481.

of rope. Ropes 5 are preferably disposed along the longitudinals 2, knotted and tied at intervals to the frame, for additional strength and to facilitate climbing.

The frame is suspended at its middle from a short ladder section 6, which is preferably of substantially the same length as one of the arms. of the cross. This ladder section may be of metal or rope, and is attachable to the lower end of a rope ladder 7 of indefinite length, by suitable fastenings or catches 8.

Connected to the outer ends ofthe ladderarms of the frame are four short terminal ladders 9, preferably of rope.

. A control rope 10 1s attached to one of the arms of the frame and passes upward through a suitable guide or guides, such as Another control rope 12 passes in a similar manner, and has four branches 13 connected to it by a ring or knot let and fastened to the lower ends of the terminal ladders 9. These control ropes are preferably of different colors so that they may be readily distinguished.

As the device is carried, or when being lowered, the control ropes l0 and 12 are drawn, so that the frame is in a vertical po sition and the four terminal ladders are folded inward upon the frame, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. When the frame has been lowered the desired distance by means of the primary ladder 7 the control rope 10 is slackened, thereby permitting the frame to assume an approximately horizontal position (Fig. 3), and then the rope 12 is slacked, permitting the terminal ladders to drop and hang free, as represented in Fig. 4.

If now some one grasps and clings to one of the terminal ladders, the frame is swung by the weight to a substantially vertical position, and the person can climb up the ladder, its continuation afforded by the frame, and thence up the ladder section 6 and the primary ladder 7 to the aerial vessel. The tilting of the frame when the weight comes on one of the terminal ladders relieves the strain at the moment of picking up.

The device may be made in different sizes, and may be used to pick up a single person, or a number of persons, who may either clamber up to the aerial vessel or continue to cling to the device until a point to which they are to be transferred has been reached.

llhe construction shown in Fig. 6 is simigrasping;

lar to the one previously described,.difiering in that the frame 1 which lies in a substan tially horizontal plane when dropped from the aerial vessel comprises only twoarms in stead of four. That is to say, it is formed of two longitudinals 2 connectedby crossbars 8 forming a ladder structure, which is connected at its center to the ladder section 6. At theends of the armsof the frame are two of the terminal, ladders'9. The other parts and elements and the operation are like those heretofore described;

Fig. 7 illustrates a three-armed .or inverted T form ladder frame 1, which hangs in a vertical plane when in use. 1 The horizontal bottom arms ofthis frame are provided with depending rope loops 20 for vertical and for releasing the same to assume a substantially horizontal posit-ion.

3. A device of the character described comprising a framefhaving a plurality of ladder-like arms to be suspended from a ladder-letdown from an aerial vessel, and a plurality of terminal ladders connected to the ends of said arms.

4. A device of the character described comprising a frame having plurality of'ladden-like arms to be suspended from a ladder let 'down from an aerial vessel, a plurality of terminal ladders connected to the ends of said arms, and means for normally holding said terminal ladders folded and for releasing the same'to hang free.

5. A device of the, character described comprising a frame having'a plurality of ladder-like arms to be suspended from a ladder let down; from an aerial vessel, a plurality of terminalladdersrconnected to the ends of said arms, means for normally'hold'ing said frame verticaland for releasing the same to assume a substantially horizontal position,

and means for normallyholding said terminal ladders folded and for releasing the same to hang free. l v v HARRIETTE HODGSON. 

